Tesla Model 3 Beat Porsche In Time Attack Race

Is the Tesla Model 3 a track machine? We thought it was a family sedan.

Tesla Model 3 is one of the most appealing vehicles on the market today. This fully electric mid-size sedan comes with impressive performance and non-anxiety-inducing range, in turn, making it a very appealing EV purchase. Hence, it’s hard to overlook the Model 3 when choosing your all-new family hauler. On the other hand, there’s not a lot of people who would mistake the Model 3 for a high-performance track machine.

But that is about to change.

Just recently, a Tesla Model 3 ran in an event that’s part of the Canadian Sport Compact Series – a time attack racing affair – beating the likes of the Porsche Boxter and a Mazda RX-8. What’s more impressive is that the feat was done on a slippery racetrack. To make things even more interesting, the Model 3 that raced these ICE performance machines is the non-performance, long-range, RWD variant of the compact electric sedan. How ‘bout them apples?

Naturally, the Model 3 is tuned & tweaked to allow it to run with the big boys on the track. With professional race car driver, Sasha Anis, behind the wheel of this Model 3, the EV player in an ICE dominated grid was ready to give the old establishment a run for their money. Both the driver and the vehicle are part of the OnPoint Dyno/Mountain Pass Performance, a team that made sure this Model 3 received all the track love it could get. You can grab a detailed look at the full build showcase posted over at the Tesla Motors Club, revealing all the interesting track oriented upgrades this Model 3 received.

The most difficult part of this build was to ensure the vehicle is race ready. After all, neither the OEM brakes nor the wheels, tires, suspension, and battery, were ever designed for the racetrack. Plainly put, the Model 3 is a vehicle that was never meant to be utilized in hot & heavy situations that come from time attack racing dynamics and all the problems arising from such usage. But, judging by the results of this recent race, it seems the team at OnPoint Dyno/Mountain Pass Performance solved these issues with flying colors and all the upgrades installed helped turn the Model 3 into a track machine.

After the lightweight wheels & tires were installed, it was time to upgrade the Model 3’s brake system. This particular Model 3 now utilizes their prototype brake-upgrade kit, prototype pads, and racing brake fluid. This ensures less brake fade and improved braking performance. Additionally, the team also installed a complete Coilover suspension system and suspension arms. All these parts ensure the Model 3 is as competitive as the next car on the grid.

The recently uploaded YouTube video from auto enthusiast Edmund Manasan gives us a detailed look at how the Model 3 performed against stiff competition in rather difficult conditions for a rather heavy, RWD Tesla Model 3; the track is wet, rather narrow & curvy, while the competition consists of some of the best handling driver’s cars available on the market today. Ultimately, Sasha and his Model 3 finished first after beating a Porsche Boxter and a Mazda RX-8.

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In reality, it’s no real surprise that Sasha Anis and his Tesla Model 3 became a dark horse in the Canadian Sport Compact Series. At one point in time, the car ranked Number 5 out of 120 vehicles entered in the series, proving the worth of electric vehicles in such events.

We can only imagine what the Model 3 Performance, which does 0-60mph (0-97km/h) in just 3.5 seconds, achieves a top speed of 155 mph, and a range of 310 miles per charge, will be able to do as a performance machine. The future is electrifying, to say the least.

This is the same Sasha Anis who converted a Lotus Evora to an EV. What he did to tune the P85D motor in that car was extremely impressive.

I am pretty sure he was able to unlock extra performance out of the Model 3 battery and motor on top of his other mods. The only thing, apart from the chasis, that he didn’t modify was the steering rack.

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4 months ago

John

Wait, I thought electric cars were supposed to be useless at the track? Oh, and always will be, if you ask the ICE proponents..

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4 months ago

Clive

All it needed was some great brakes, some coil-overs, and R spec tires.

Imagine that.

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4 months ago

John M

And stronger cooling for the battery.

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4 months ago

Tesla lover

All it need is to drop this stupid table in the middle … daaaaamn ungly and annoying.

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4 months ago

dathomir

Generalize much?

This was a time attack event, meaning depending on the event it could be only 3 laps or 5 or however many is specified.

“useless at the track” – I think others are referring to races like 24 Hours of Le Mans, endurance type of races, etc. Eventually ev’s will get there, whether it’s supercharging in the pits, battery swapping, or wirelesss charging.

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4 months ago

John

I guess I only generalize my responses to ‘general’ comments. The track comment is actually a common knock on EV’s, becoming ever more common due to the severe lack of ICE advantages left.

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4 months ago

BayAreaMech

Well, Teslas are pretty much useless at the track. They aren’t designed for that kind of use and they don’t have sufficient battery cooling. I have no doubt the Porsche Taycan will do well on a track, though. There is no inherent weakness in EVs that makes them poor in a track environment. It’s the same reason why a standard Honda Civic can’t handle more than a lap or two before its brakes go soft, etc. It’s not designed for track use. Same for EVs. A Model S cannot complete a full lap of VIR without overheating and going into limp-home mode. I would be inclined to believe the Model 3 is similar. EVs designed for performance driving, though, should be killer.

With regards to this example, short auto-cross style events (5 laps over a short road course), especially on a cool rainy day, won’t over stress the batteries and thus Tesla can compete. A true miles-long road course on a summer day would probably kill the regular Model 3. The Model 3 Performance might be different.

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4 months ago

philip d

You’re thinking of the Model S. Lots of people have been running Model 3s on different tracks. I haven’t seen anything from anyone that has done so say there was any reduction in power no matter how many laps they ran. They had other problems like having their stock brake pads melt but nothing about the drivetrain having any issues with hard track driving.

From a Laguna Seca run: “The first session of the day had NO battery power limitations! Nine laps without slowing down! Yes!” “Started with 229 miles (369 km) of range before leaving the paddock garage for the first session on the track. After nine laps I parked it with 94 miles”. His day ended when he melted his stock pads.

So it seems the only limitation is range not performance if the brake package is upgraded for the track just like any car. If he started with a fully charged battery the Model 3 could do 18 laps all out around Laguna Seca or around 40 miles. That would be around 3 laps of the Nurburgring BTG.

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4 months ago

Mwene Mutapa

Who made such a stupid comment?

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3 months ago

Mwene Mutapa

Now folks can begin to understand why Chevrolet has always gone for low end torque in their performance motors and why Corvettes are so dominating. a Porsche has Zero torque down low.. did not stand a chance here…